The upgrades are known as the Parallel Mission System, or PMS. They are intended to equip French A400M aircraft with multi-mission capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
“The A400M is a true Swiss Army knife for the armed forces that use it. It has the capabilities and potential to continue expanding the scope of its missions,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Executive Vice President Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space.
“With this development, the French Air and Space Force is acquiring an aircraft capable of becoming a tactical command and control (C2) tool in the air,” Dumont said. The new capability is intended to expand the operational role of the aircraft beyond transport missions.
The PMS development will focus on integrating a new mission system on board the aircraft. It will also include tactical situational awareness consoles installed in the cargo hold to monitor various sensors and coordinate missions.
The upgrades also aim to integrate an optronic sensor onto the aircraft. Airbus said the new mission system is designed to integrate additional sensors and communication systems.
The system is also intended to manage drones and missiles launched from the aircraft’s cargo hold. Ultimately, the aircraft crew will be able to coordinate missions involving ground troops, helicopters and fighter jets in a collaborative combat mode.
The helicopters listed for this role include the Tiger and the Caracal H225M. Airbus said the capability would support coordination between different assets during operations.
After a development phase, the new equipment will be installed on board the first French A400M in 2027. Flight testing is planned for 2028.
A number of aircraft in the French Air and Space Force fleet will then be retrofitted to accommodate a PMS kit. Airbus did not specify the number of aircraft to be modified.
Airbus Defence and Space is also exploring other potential A400M capability developments. These include long-range jamming and a mother-ship function for the in-flight release of drones and missiles.
Other options under study include increasing payload capacity to 40 tonnes and adding firefighting capabilities. Airbus said these developments would further expand the missions of the A400M and help meet current and future needs of armed forces.
